Corporate Finance
12th Edition
ISBN: 9781259918940
Author: Ross, Stephen A.
Publisher: Mcgraw-hill Education,
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Textbook Question
Chapter 17, Problem 9CQ
Bankruptcy and Corporate Ethics Finns sometimes use the threat of a bankruptcy filing to force creditors to renegotiate terms. Critics argue that in such cases the firm is using bankruptcy Jaws “as a sword rather than a shield.” Is this an ethical tactic?
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Sell-Soft is the defendant in numerous lawsuits claiming unfair trade practices. Sell- Soft has strong incentives not to disclose these contingent liabilities. However, GAAP requires that companies report their contingent liabilities.
Requirements
Why would a company prefer not to disclose its contingent liabilities?
Describe how a bank could be harmed if a company seeking a loan did not disclose its contingent liabilities.
What ethical tightrope must companies walk when they report contingent liabilities?
Differentiate between various forms of bankruptcy and restructuring that the clients should understand.
1. Summarize the key points of interest if the company fell on hard times and had to file voluntary bankruptcy. What ethical implications
should be considered when debating whether or not to file bankruptcy?
2. Identify the key areas of concern if the company fell on hard times and their creditors forced them into bankruptcy. What defenses are
available in this situation?
3. Illustrate hypothetical calculations that would be done to help creditors understand how much money they might receive if the company
were to liquidate. Ensure all information is entered accurately. Refer to the illustration (Exhibit 13.2) in your textbook to view potential
calculations.
Why are creditors willing to negotiate with you?
It's fun.
o They lose more by negotiating with you than if you go into bankruptcy.
They lose less by negotiating with you than if you go into bankruptcy.
They're required to do so.
Chapter 17 Solutions
Corporate Finance
Ch. 17 - Bankruptcy Costs What are the direct and indirect...Ch. 17 - Stockholder Incentives Do you agree or disagree...Ch. 17 - Capital Structure Decisions Due to large losses...Ch. 17 - Cost of Debt What steps can stockholders take to...Ch. 17 - MM and Bankruptcy Costs How does the existence of...Ch. 17 - Agency Costs of Equity What are the sources of...Ch. 17 - Observed Capital Structures Refer to the observed...Ch. 17 - Bankruptcy and Corporate Ethics As mentioned in...Ch. 17 - Bankruptcy and Corporate Ethics Finns sometimes...Ch. 17 - Prob. 10CQ
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- how does being unethical in the financial industry affect communication with clients?arrow_forwardAs a result of the recent mortgage crisis, many banks reported record losses to their mortgage receivables and other assets based on the decline in these assets’ fair values. Requirements What would the effect be to stakeholders if such losses were not reported in a timely way? If a business chooses not to report these losses, is there an ethical issue involved? Who is hurt?arrow_forwardSelect only the false statement below: a. Because many aspects of the bankruptcy process are independent of the size of the firm, the costs are typically higher, in percentage terms, for smaller firms. b. Aside from the direct legal and administrative costs of bankruptcy, many other indirect costs are associated with financial distress (whether or not the firm has formally filed for bankruptcy). c. Although indirect costs of bankruptcy are difficult to measure accurately, they are typically much smaller than the direct costs of bankruptcy. d. Bankruptcy protection can be used by management to delay the liquidation of a firm that should be shut down.arrow_forward
- Do you think there are any circumstances when you should go outside the company to report financial wrongdoing? If so, to what person/organization would you go? Why? If not, why would you not take the information outside the company?arrow_forwardConsider again Milton Friedman’s article. 1. What does Friedman mean by “ethical custom”? 2. If the laws of the society are limiting the company’s profitability, would the company be within its rights to disobey the law? 3. What if the law is “on the books,” but the company could count on a lack of enforcement from state officials who were overworked and underpaid? Should the company limit its profits? Suppose that it could save money by discharging a pollutant into a nearby river, adversely affecting fish and, potentially, drinking water supplies for downstream municipalities. In polluting against laws that aren’t enforced, is it still acting “within the rules of the game”? What if almost all other companies in the industry were saving money by doing similar acts?arrow_forwardMany critics argue that greed in the mortgage markets caused the credit crisis. Yet many market advocates suggest that greed is good, as the thirst for profits by firms that participate in the mortgage markets allows for economic growth. Explain how regulations can allow for greed while also ensuring proper transparency in the mortgage markets so that another credit crisis does not occur.arrow_forward
- Management, the board of directors and creditors are working to avoid a bankruptcy situation for a firm. If they believe the firm's problems are temporary, which of the following should they consider before entering into any short-term restructuring arrangement? Whether existing management or a special trustee should be in charge during the restructuring Whether the value to shareholders could be increased by selling the firm in pieces Whether the long-term value of the firm will be impacted Whether a formal or informal filing will be requiredarrow_forwardWhich of the following statements is incorrect? A A bank providing a loan to the entity is not a related party transaction. An entity should neither accrue nor disclose when it cosigned a mortgage note on the home of its president B guaranteeing the indebtedness in the event that the president should default. The entity considers the likelihood to default to be remote. Post-employment benefit is part of the compensation of key management personnel. An entity is not required to disclose if it has a common director with another entity.arrow_forwardAfter dissolution caused by the illegal acts, fraud, corruption and etc. of the directors, trustees, officers, or employees, what will happen to the innocent stockholders and employees? Are they going to receive something from the company's assets since they are not involved to that act?arrow_forward
- Business damages, as a result of financial fraud, directly impact the operations of any company. Under this premise: What can be, in your opinion, some of the commercial damages resulting from financial fraud? What methods can you use to assess the damages caused by financial fraud? How do generally accepted accounting principles help prevent financial statement fraud?arrow_forwardWhich one of the following is an indirect cost of bankruptcy? The fees that creditors need to pay to their lawyers to help them recover their credit Court fees Administrative delays that creditors experience in recovering their money Workers spending their time searching for alternative employment opportunitiesarrow_forwardPlease answer the second question as well please. 2. Identify the key areas of concern if the company fell on hard times and their creditors forced them into bankruptcy. What defenses are available in this situation?arrow_forward
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